[You have completed the 3rd scenario]
[A reward "Personal Notebook" has been awarded]
[Scenario 4 will commence in a minute]
The scenario concluded just as the plot intended.
Banuar won the final challenge and was invited over by the headmaster for tea.
The others left the open area, leaving the butler, the headmaster and Banuar. In the next minute, the 4th scenario commenced with a translucent sheet covering the three.
'We are not part of the 4th scenario' Dos pondered, stealing gazes at the three who were exchanging little words.
Dos dragged his body out of the open area along with other brothers, they were then escorted by the maids to their personal quarters whilst the trainers left the main house. Their undertaking of the young masters were already over and they were now to return to their respective barracks.
They were one of the pillars of the Calinga family and had been training their forces since their rise in power.
'Now that we have completed our basic training, we are now endorsed to the basic education', Dos recalled vague details in the novel.
For the first 3 years, the children of Calinga underwent their basic training. Then, for the next 7 years, they were honed in basic education.
'Then after that, at 10 years old, we will undergo the next culling', the cruel scenario of the culling stung his mind.
Callinga family valued quality over quantity. Their forces might be the smallest among the 5 great families in the continent but each was a hound to reckon with.
"This will be your room, young master Dos", a maid gestured toward him, steering him clear of his deep thoughts.
Nestled amidst sprawling meadows and a cobblestone path, the main house, stretching 80 meters on each side, was built of weathered grey stone, its surface covered with creeping ivy that deepened its imposing presence. High-pitched gabled roofs topped with dark slate tiles added a jagged silhouette against the deepening twilight sky.
Surrounding the house, a modest garden overflowed with wild herbs, and red spider lilies, and a small pond reflecting the house's grandeur. The open area settled in the rear.
The first floor opened into a sprawling hall, with the kitchen tucked toward the rear, adjacent to the massive pantry, along with the study hall and other utility rooms.
The upper floor was divided into private quarters. Each bedroom featured a large canopy bed draped in rich fabrics, their posts carved with the emblem of the Calinga family. Windows of wooden shutters opened to let in the cool breeze.
The house, with its grandeur, entails the prominence of the Calinga family.
Dos entered his quarter and immediately rested his back against the soft bed. His eyes wandered to the system's translucent screen.
[Status Window
Role: Dos Calinga
Skill/s:
Copycat (Ex) (Level 1)
Calinga Sword Mastery (D)
Calinga's Pledge (A)
Rewards: Personal notebook
>Rules
>Kills]
'Personal notebook huh'
It was the reward for completing the 3rd scenario. He immediately tried summoning the notebook.
A standard-sized notebook draped with coconut fiber cover and his name attached to it, materialized in his hand. It had 100 pages on it and Dos impulsively knew that the number of pages could be expanded by will.
"So they are encouraging us to write the novel with whatever we can remember" Dos muttered as he then ransacked his notebook in his wardrobe arranged by the maids.
For the past 3 years, Dos dug his mind for the contents of the novel. He had written these in his notebook in such a way only he would understand.
To no avail, Dos couldn't recall vivid details from the novel. The timespan of several years blurred the contents in his mind.
"I can only remember a little, mostly about characters and their skills.", Dos was crestfallen with what he had written.
He had squeezed his mind for information but nothing new resurfaced.
"Perhaps I can exchange notes with others.", the image of Banuar formed in his mind.
His instinct was telling him that he was someone he could ask for it.
"He is so kind that it feels unreal. And he is easily tricked.", Dos muttered.
Exchanging notes with others served more advantages than disadvantages. By recalling the vital information in the future, he could devise a way to survive.
"Surviving by strength alone is lethal. If I want to survive, I have to have the information.", Dos muttered.
The moment his finger slid open his notebook, it vanished into thin air, the disintegrating blue lights retained vague before it vanished entirely.
Then, a system announcement followed.
[Your notes has been transferred to your personal notebook]
"I see, so it has this feature as well", Dos was satisfied with the feature. He no longer had to transfer his note manually nor mull over on how to dispose of his notes.
Dos then hurried to check his personal notebook and as the system suggested, his notes were transferred, filling the first 50 pages of the notebook.
His notes were also organized and well written.
"It might not be written in a code-way manner now but it is fine regardless.", since he could unsummon the notebook, the chance of it being stolen or discovered was near to null.
Misplacing it was not a problem either.
Dos raced his mind once more for any more event he could recall but to no avail, his attempt was rendered futile.
"I should head to the open area for now", he muttered
Without any more agenda in mind, Dos headed straight to the open area. The twilight dawning from the window panes, carrying an icy breeze.
The moon was peeking as night approached.
The 4th scenario was long over and there was no longer anyone in the open area. Dos raised the steel sword he had brought and began practicing the Calinga swordsmanship.
His Calinga Sword Mastery (D) didn't raise his proficiency of the art in leaps and bounds. If anything, it only aided in his practice, making self-taught possible by enticing enlightenment through constant practice.
For this reason, he couldn't declare full mastery of the Calinga swordsmanship even with the skill.
Banuar, who had an inherent talent for swordsmanship could jump ranks with ease.
"If I want to survive, investing hardworks is necessary", his mind resolute since day 1.
Brandishing his sword in incessant pickle angle, Dos's locked in deep concentration, his Persistence (A) skill kept his determination at its peak the entire night.
The headmaster, peering through his room's window pane, sipped his midnight tea. His eyes caught sight of the persistent Dos.
…
*Knock knock
"Who's there?"
Dos was woken up by the knocking in the room of his door. He had slept when the rooster began crowing and had rested for only a few hours.
His eyes were lethargic early in the morning.
"Young master, it's me, Lucia. I have come to deliver your breakfast", a high pitched voice resounded from the other end of the door.
It was Lucia, the housekeeper. She was the oldest among the servants of the Calinga family and the head of the female servants.
Shutting his ears from the high pitched voice, Dos rubbed his temple as he responded.
"Just leave it by the doorway, " he stated.
Lucia left the food tray as instructed, she articulated a few more words before she left in haste.
"Your class will be starting at 8, young master. Just call for me if you need anything.", she reminded me.
Lucia, though earsplitting, was hardworking and softhearted.
'Among the individuals living here in the main house, she is most likely the only kind person, of course aside from the servants.', Dos recalled
She also had a skill that specialized in causing exaggeration with little cuts. It was best for torturing.
"It is a pity that she is hemophobic thus she only uses it for cutting, cooking, or some household stuffs'
Gazing at the time displayed in his wooden clock, powered with magic, Dos began preparing for the incoming class.
…
..
"Dos! Did you have a good sleep? Haha finally we are retired from the hard bed of the training ground"
Banuar greeted Dos first thing the moment he arrived in their study room.
The room was located on the first floor right next to the kitchen and pantry. Opposite to the room were several more rooms for other things like laboratory, recreation room, and some other rooms.
The room was rather small, accommodating 12 students at best.
Dos directly headed to a vacant chair in the rear, beside the window. The morning light pervaded the room.
The chairs were layered in 3 rows, with 4 chairs in each row. Sadiri, Banuar, Isagani, and Homobono occupied the first row, seating arranged from door to windowside, respectively.
Homobono gazed by the window, his eyes shut as he slept.
Banuar, who was just ignored by Dos, sat pouting in his chair, chattering with unresponsive Sadiri beside him.
A system announcement then rang before them.
[Now Commencing]
[Scenario 5: Start of Class
Mission: None
Characters: Banuar Calingan, Dos, Sadiri…. 7 other Calinga brothers
Survivors: 10]
It was another non-survival scenario.
A translucent sheet then began capsulating the room with the commencement of the scenario. No one outside the plot could interfere.
An old guy dressed in a fitted shirt entered the room. Right after, he started the class.
They had to complete the basic education of the Calinga family's origin, territory, and power. Both were in classroom set-up and held from morning to 5 in the afternoon, five days a week.
At night, the Calinga swordsmanship or practical class was conducted. They were further introduced to the Calinga's headhunting at night - their family's specialization. They were also training their Calinga's Pledge (A) skill.
During weekends, they were immersed in their self-training.
A week had passed since their first class. Dos grew familiar with this repetitive daily routine and grew accustomed to the world - their new reality.
He was now hanging out with Banuar from time to time, mostly just to share notes with him.
In a span of a week, Dos had a key understanding of the brothers' personalities.
Banuar was the easy-going and friendly type. He even conversed with other brothers as if nothing had happened in the sparring a week ago.
Sadiri, who was the most timid, usually hung around the library of the main house. He often neglected physical training and rarely was seen in the open area.
Homobono was staying lowkey for the past week after the sparring. He often locked himself up in his room or loiter in the pantry with Isagani and other brothers.
Dos mostly occupied the open area to train. Banuar and the other brothers would come from time to time.
The week passed with no feud erupting both on and off scenarios.
They had been consistently receiving a slight increase in strength after each scenario was completed. There had not been any notable reward since the personal notebook.
Monday came gently for the Calinga's main house. Lucia knocked through the doors, delivering their breakfast as usual.
Dos headed to the room, trailing the serene hallway toward the study hall.
In the room, a fight ensued with Homobono stepping into the head of Sadiri.
He was stamping his foot like a madman.